 
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is the deadline for applications for grant number HHS-2009-ACF-ORR-ZV-0027?
Answer: The due date for applications is 12/22/2008. Applications received after 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, on the due date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition.
Question: Who is eligible to apply?
Answer: Eligibility is open to all types of domestic applicants other than individuals. Applicants must be located in the United States or in U.S. territories. Applicants are not required to be currently involved in a Rescue and Restore coalition. Current recipients of Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program grants (awarded under Funding Opportunity HHS-2008-ACF-ORR-ZV-0048) are not eligible to apply to this announcement. ORR will not award funding for activities that are intended to take place in Colorado; Houston, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky; North Carolina; or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other current ORR grantees and contractors are eligible to apply; however ORR will not award funding for activities that are duplicative of those currently supported with ORR funds. Current grantees and contractors conducting activities similar to the activities in this grant announcement may submit applications for activities that will begin following the expiration of the existing grant or contract. The Project Plan and proposed budget should take into account any activities already funded under current awards.
Question: What is the geographic area that applicants can cover?
Answer: The applicant must specify the geographic area in which it will conduct activities. Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the area to be served by the proposed project.
Question: Does the applicant have to be located within the geographic area in which it proposes to work?
Answer: Yes, the applicant must be located within the geographic area in which it proposes to work.
Question: Are letters of intent required?
Answer: Letters of intent are strongly encouraged but not required. ORR should receive letters of intent by 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, on the due date found at the beginning of the announcement and in Section IV.3. Letters should state the funding opportunity number and title, the applicant's name and address, and the name, phone number, fax number and e-mail address of a contact person, and the geographical area in which the applicant will operate.
Question: What is the page limit for applications?
Answer: Each application narrative must not exceed 30 pages double-spaced.
In addition, attachments and appendices must not exceed 30 pages and should be used only to provide supporting documentation such as administration charts, position descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent or partnership agreements. Applicants should include a table of contents and a one-page executive summary but these will not count against the page limitations. Application forms, such as certifications, assurances and forms 424 and 424A are also not counted in the page limit. For the narrative or attachments, the limitation of 30 pages should be considered as a maximum, and not necessarily a goal. Reviewers will not consider any pages that go beyond the 30-page limit. Applicants should also strictly adhere to instructions in the announcement concerning font size, margins and spacing of lines.
Question: Should applicants number the pages of the application?
Answer: Applicants should number the all application pages sequentially throughout the package, and should begin the application with the project summary or abstract of the proposed project. Applicants should also number the pages of all attachments and appendices.
Question: Do all applicants have to sign the Certification Regarding Prostitution and Related Activities?
Answer: Applicants seeking ORR-administered Federal anti-trafficking funds must certify that they will not use the funds to promote, support or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Each applicant must include a completed, signed certification with the application. Applicants must also include completed, signed certifications for each sub-award. The certification must be completed and signed by an officer or other person authorized to bind the applicant or sub-awardee. Reviewers will not evaluate applications submitted without signed certifications regarding prostitution and related activities. More details about the certification can be found at Section IV under "Forms, Assurances, and Certifications."
Question: Can grant funds be used to provide services for trafficking victims?
Answer: Yes, grant funds can be used to provide urgent case management and direct services for trafficking victims to meet immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter when these needs cannot be met with HHS funds administered by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, awarded under Solicitation number 06Y007781, entitled "Services to Victims of Human Trafficking," or by Federally funded benefits and services for which victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons are eligible. Direct services to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents are not allowed under this grant.
Question: Are there any services or activities for which grant funds cannot be used?
Answer: Yes, there are services or activities for which grant funds may not be used. For example, recipients may not use grant funds for legal assistance for victims of trafficking (see the Program Purpose in Section I. of this announcement); to lobby employees or Members of Congress (see the Certification Regarding Lobbying); to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution (see the Certification Regarding Prostitution in Section IV.2. of this announcement); to pay for an abortion, or to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug. See the HHS Grants Policy Statement at http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/docs/HHSGPS_107.doc for more information on other general restrictions on HHS funds.) Also, direct services to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents are not allowed under this grant.
Question: Must applicants enter into formal agreements with potential sub-recipients prior to the submission of the application?
Answer: No, but applicants should have informal agreements established with potential sub-awardees at the time of application, so that these agreements can be finalized within two weeks of the project start date to ensure there are no delays in project implementation. All sub-awards are subject to approval by the Project Officer.
Question: Must potential sub-recipients have previous anti-trafficking experience?
Answer: Sub-awardees are not required to have previous anti-trafficking experience, but they must be able to contribute to the applicant's goals and expected results.
Question: What does it mean that this grant is a cooperative agreement?
Answer: Under a cooperative agreement, substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the recipient during performance of the funded activity. Substantial involvement will require that the project plan proposed be approved by the ORR Project Officer prior to implementation. Also, substantial involvement will include collaboration by the ORR Project Officer in certain specified activities as determined by ORR and, as appropriate, decision-making at specified milestones related to performance.
Question: Do applicants need to submit a logic model? What logic model should applicants use?
Answer: Each applicant must submit a logic model for designing and managing the project. Applicants must incorporate all eight program objectives into the logic model. Applicants are not required to use any particular logic model, but an example of a logic model used in a different program appears below. Applicants can adapt it for their program.
Example:
Objectives should be "SMART":-- Specific to avoid differing interpretations;
-- Measurable to monitor and evaluate progress;
-- Appropriate to the identified problems and the applicant's organization or partner;
-- Realistic and achievable, yet challenging and meaningful; and
-- Time-bound, with a specific time for achieving them.
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